August 10th, 2012
06:57 PM ET
Obama's Iftar dinner menu Friday night President Obama will host his fourth annual Iftar dinner in the State Dining Room to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunup to sundown and often break their fast with a communal Iftar dinner in the evening. The tradition of hosting an Iftar dinner at the White House began under President Clinton and has been continued by both President Bush and President Obama. According to the White House, the invited guests for the evening “include elected officials, religious and grassroots leaders in the Muslim American community, and leaders of diverse faiths and members of the diplomatic corps.” Here’s the menu for the Friday's dinner: Kitchen Garden Chopped Summer Salad Thyme-roasted Natural Chicken Vanilla Peach Sesame Halvah Crunch |
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no fried chicken?
No PORK you devil worshippers
Everett beacuse you eat Pork doesn't make you a Saint. You are the Evil worshipper beacuse you eat all sort of meat including Snakes and Carcasses. You better go back to school and learn American Hiostory. We all have freedom to our Religions, ignoramos!
No Chic-fil-a? That's alright Jerry, you weren't invited anyway.
Most Americans and their families are getting by on hamburger helper ... Ramen noodles ... and other cheap meals ... while Obama continues to spend the tax payers money on luxury gourmet dinners, with the Islamic elite ... and, at the same time Americans are experiencing painful inflation at the grocery store and the gas pumps. Thanks to Obama, we didn't drill for oil, or build the pipeline, and corn for ethanol has increased in cost multiple times. But, it's o.k. if Americans are struggling, with a dismal future ... after all, Obama is a nice guy.
really Howard? you're that ignorant that you can't see that this is a traditional dinner that goes back all the way to President Clinton? It's got nothing to do with Muslim Elites...it's a gathering that promotes solidarity, acceptance and respect for a culture's traditions...there was a Seder hosted as well during the end of the Passover...the President is simply keeping up with the tradition of honoring all cultures by celebrating their most cultural events on a grander stage...get over it!!!
@Howard Larry Moe CurlyJoe WELFARE QUEEN
Just 'cause yer rubbing two fingers together, the orchestra can tell it ain't a real violin.
Neither were you bimbo!
Howard...Waah...waah...waah...
For gods sake, these dinners are nothing new. Clinton and Bush were not criticized when they hosted the same dinner for Ramadan. Quit making a big deal out of it...
To Howard – No, that´s not true most Americans are doing O.K. . However a lot of Americans do need help
because of republican policies from the "W"Bush era . A lot of Idiotic Americans ( the ones that make under
a million a year and still vote republican) think that just because "W"Bush is gone all the mistakes he made
and past bills he rang up went with him . Like the article said Mr. Clinton started this tradition and Mr. "W"
BUsh kept it going . What the article doesn´t say is how "W" Bush on 9/11 flew the Bin Laden family out of
N.Y. to help them avoid interogation because they were the Bush´s family friends . I´ll never question
Mr. Obama´s loyalty to this country . He hunted down and killed Osama Bin Laden but I will question the
patriotism ofv thev ruling echelon of the Republican Party .
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A BLIND, GULLIBLE, STOOGE, WHO TRUSTS THE LIES FROM OBAMA OVER THE SELF EVIDENT REALITY, WHICH IS ALL AROUND YOU. FOOLS LIKE YOU ARE THE REASON THIS CHARLATAN IS ABLE TO TURN AMERICA INTO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. ALREADY OUR STANDARD OF LIVING HAS DIMINISHED ... WHILE YOU SUPPORT THE HYPOCRITE WHO IS MAKING IT EVEN WORSE, DAY BY DAY
My Younger brother just asked me: is it true Obama did Cocaine n Weed? – Whats the answer?
Ha Ha @HOWARD is a bigoted, unintelligent, selfi-centered ignoramus. Who clearly thinks that hamburgers are the end-all and be-all of cuisine. If you, oh ignoramus, think that roasted chicken is "gourmet" then you really are a plebe. Note the veggies appear to have been home grown in the white house garden. So your amazingly transparent, muslim-phobic and pointless post is completely illegitimate, as are your opinions.
@Howard i really really feel sorry for you i swear to god i feel sorry for you
"Most Americans" would be eating far better than Hamburger Helper if they got off their butts and raised their own vegetables the way the Obamas do. Gourmet doesn't have to be expensive, just well-prepared. There's nothing on that menu you couldn't make with ingredients from your local grocery story or farm stand, except maybe the halvah, which is nothing but ground up sesame seeds.
THE BIGGEST ITEM ON THE OBAMA MENU, BEING SERVED TO THE ISLAMIC WORLD, IS AMERICA !!!
@Howard AGAIN i really really feel sorry for you i swear to god i feel sorry for you
We all know who got stuck with the check (again) ... the American tax payer !!!
ain't nothin holy about religion and I can not beleive there is no PORK on the menue at least bacon. DEVIL worshippers.
NO PORK devil worshippers
ramadam is a hoax
NOPE!
I don't understand some of the foods, but it sounds delicious!
ROMNEY & RYAN = smart, successful, honest, competent VS. obama & biden = mudslinging, lying, incompetent failures.
Save America ... Romney & Ryan in 2012 !!!
So you really think RomneyRyan can win? Yeah right...
Idiocy confirmed.
You fear me...
I am voting for Obama
That is the ONLY thing on his schedule for the ENTIRE day.............must be one hell of a dinner.
whatever
This is considered news? you need to start digging to set the bar any lower.
If you expect news or in-depth reporting from CNN you'll be waiting a long time. They specialize in Obama fluff pieces.
Whenever POTUS is in a "dinner" setting, we must always ponder which one of those pesky extremists is he taking out now...seems like every time he eats, one of them die...GO GO GO POTUS YOU'RE ON A ROLL!!!
Hosting the enemy with taxpayer dollars while the public starves. This impotent fraud in the Oval Office has no shame for his excesses...he should be in prison.
Why is Ramadan being celebrated in the White House? If the man wishes to practice his religion, it should be in his private quarters, I think, unless it is a state occasion, and I do not believe that this is.
Did you not read the enntire article? Bush gave the same dinner !!!
It was started under Clinton CONTINUED UNDER BUSH.....your time to sqawk about it passed.
cynthia l. = CONSISTENTLY OBNOXIOIUS.
Just another fluff story from CNN as exemplified by the fact that they needed to tell us that other presidents, including Bush, has a dinner for the same occasion.
At this point I almost hope Obama does get reelected – given another 4 years of this will kill liberalism forever.
@Megamimi, the "Ramadan dinner" is meant to show that the White House is inclusive and respects other religions, just as they have special Easter and Christmas celebrations
I have read how much Obama charges for a plate, $35,000 to $45,000. How much do you think he will take home from this shindig?
FEEDING THE HAND THAT BITES YOU.
Pitbulls with LIPSTICK tend to do that. But, I don't think Palin was invited to attend – so, no worries.
cynthia l. is consistently OBNOXIOUS !!!
IN REGARDS TO THIS POST, WHO WOULD REALLY EAT THE CRAP AT THE GOING RATE FOR ANYTHING, IS FAR
BEYOND MY PEASANT WALLET. THIS PEASANT POTUS CARES LESS, WE THE TAXPAYER WILL WIND UP PAYING THE TAB. HOW ABOUT HAVING LIMITS TO THIS DUFUS AS TO WHAT HE CAN SPEND FOR SUCH SCARF.
Bush did it too....
Remember this song??
My BALONEY has a first name – It's O-S-C-A -R
My BALONEY has a second name – It's M-A-Y-E-R.......
I kid you not, Romney's pick for Vice Pres. ACTUALLY DROVE THE WEINERMOBILE!!! True story.
Are you trying to make some point here? The weinermoblie is in Wisconsin where Oscar Mayer is. It's certainly better than what Anthony Weiner did with his "mobile".
@Frankenstein Marshall
Anthony Wiener ISN'T RUNNING FOR V.P.-BWAH-HA-HA-HA!!
Curb the meth use, it's no good for you.
What's yer poison – onions or relish? Beep-Beep!
CYNTHIA L. ... YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY OBNOXIOUS.
@Howard Larry Moe CurlyJoe WELFARE QUEEN
Was that a memo from Karl?? Or, did you have something to add that doesn't include telling people they are stooges that you so often do....Every other post,....which makes you a stooge three times over. What you have to say right now, hasn't anything to do with the truth or the fact, that you would like your country to succeed AND continue to be great. With or without you, it will find a way. If you died tomorrow, and faced your maker, what would you say was your contribution to man?
I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED HARD FOR A LIVING AND I AM PISSED THAT THIS IDIOT CAN SPEND MY HARD EARNED
MONEY FOR THIS SORT OF WASTE OF MY DOLLARS. WE TUCK IT IN DURING HARD TIMES,WHEN THIS DUDE SPENDS
LIKE THERE IS NO PAY BACK,JUST A FREE BEE-THAT BIT OF SPENDING HURTS US ALL. I THINK IT SHOULD COME
OUT YOUR POCKET,NOT THE TAX PAYER. FACT IS YOU JUST DO NOT GIVE A RATS ASS FOR ANY AMERICAN.
I DO NOT CARE IF YOU WERE BORN IN THE USA OR WHERE EVER,NO WAY YOU COULD BE A TRUE AMERICAN.
OH, BY THE WAY DID YOU READ THE BOOK CHAVEZ PASSED TO YOU AND ACCEPTED FOR ALL TO SEE. NO,
YOU HAD YOUR OWN PLAY BOOK FOR THE DEMISE OF OUR COUNTRY. YOU SHOULD THINK OF HISTORY ABOUT
THE MAN WHO DENOUNCED AMERICA AND WAS PUT ON A SHIP TO NEVER EVER AGAIN TO SEE AMERICAN SOIL.
JUST SAYING,YOU MIGHT CONSIDER SUCH A FATE.
Was Bush put on same boat ? He did it too...
Whatever floats yer boat, DUDE. Just make sure the HOLES you forgot to patch, aren't sinkin' yer own boat.
People make me laugh, Critizing the menu. How immature. Have they not seen any of the menus of the past Presidents dinners ? Hysterical ! What idiots ! They must be from the southern states where ignorance runs at full force.
You just called an entire region of the country ignorant, do you really believe that? I guess intellectual giants such as yourself look down on everybody. Please impress us with more of your wisdom.
What a good Muslim he is!
Excellent menu and Whitehouse has shown great taste. It is simple as the religion of Islam stands for. Well done. Obama.
That menu sounds delicious!
Lets enjoy before Romney and Ryan take over and then it will be the end for us senior citizens.......what a nightmare!
Do you get all you info from ads or are you researching for yourself? Medicare/medicaid is NOT changing for ANYBODY celebrating 55 years in 2012! There will be a voucher OPTION for those who are younger!
You all lost the election. Please tell Fox and Friends they're wasting their time cheerleading for losers.
why do northern americans bash southern americans their hard workin when they have a job their patrotic fight for their country without saying i'm only fighting for the south so obama likes good food as long as he isn't paying he also likes vacations at places at 50,000 a week and he likes traveling in airforce 1 and he loves golf. Give him another 4 years so he can finish the job he started. ruining America. he's a joke and big time loser. Have you forgotten he was going to with hold ss checks and veteran checks unless he got his way.
Poor Obama. He holds such parties in White House to get some good food for himself and his family. I would approve it. Prez, your guys keep asking for money on internet. I have decided to save my money and give you my vote. I hope it is ok with you.
Cynthia L: You seems to be genius to me.
Obama is the path to poverty . Romney is the path to prosperity .
Funny that Obamaa skips the National Prayer Breakfast , yet has an Iftar dinner with members of the American M.uslim B.rotherhood in attendance . So Obama claims to be a Christian , and doesnt act like one , and claims not to be a Muslim , yet celebrates Islamic high holy holidays ... makes you think , doesnt it .
This is the first time in history that the Republican party is running a PROTESTANT for Pres. or V.P.. Interesting fact.
CORRECTION – IS NOT RUNNING A PROTESTANT CANDIDATE. Wonder what John Hagee is doing in the closet praying.
Why does Obama celebrate the Iftar if he is a christian ?
Having spent 25 years as an American diplomat in the Middle East, and having enjoyed many Iftar dinners with my Muslim friends in numerous countries, I am just a bit surprised by the menu. In most Islamic countries, the Iftar meal begins with a warm, rich soup usually called "chorba" or "shorba." It is served because after a long day of fasting, especially in hot weather, some dishes can make people ill. I am not sure what "Lavash" is, perhaps it's a soup? Salad as a starter is quite rare. Similarly, for dessert, the menu lists "Halvah" which is much more a jewish than Islamic dish. Does anyone else have any useful comments on the menu? In any case, we salute President Obama for continuing this wonderful tradition.
I did a bit of research. Turns out Lavash is an unleavened flatbread, probably of ancient Armenian origin. It's widely used across the northern tier of Middle Eastern states, Turkey, Iran, also Armenia. I do recall having it in Turkey many years ago, and it was quite good, albeit bland. Using some fresh goat cheese on it improves it greatly.
I just bought a cookbook of Turkish recipes and I looked up Lavash and was disappointed not to find out what it was so, thank you. It would have been great to have had CNN explain what was listed on the menu. My cookbook does have Halva pastries. The Halva is inside a filo pastry. Halva being a sweetmeat made from crushed sesame seeds, or almonds combined with boiled sugar syrup. Made in block form and sold in slices, and is availbable from Middle Eastern and Turkish grocery stores. My oldest son has been to Turkey and loves the food so, I want to send him this cookbook which has wonderful pictures of the and interesting photos of different street scenes .
I was wondering if you could explain the design painted on many of the plates in the cookbook?
The design has a woman's head with a serpent's tail.
No doubt an Americanized version of the traditional meal.
@AgrippaMT YOU ARE RIGHT
here is the menu first it dates with milk as our Messenger then juice ,soup 'harira' , boiled eggs then you have messaman ‘great Moroccan crêpe’ and some Moroccan sweet desert
in witch city you live i will invite you to my home for iftar with pleasure
Muslim..he is Muslim right????
Obama Lied that America is not a Christian Country. Whatever he declares as truth one day will be declared false the next.
omg...it was chicken and vegetables with ice cream...all this over a meal with friends or potential friends...I wonder who Mittens will invite to the WH – all his bankers!
The only controversial things I see are the sunchoke puree, ratatouille, and sesame halvah crunch. The tarragon dressing might be potentially irritating to a Republican bigot. They can be found having a hate-meal at chick-fil-a.
"a hate meal from Chic-fil-a"? I see you're from SanFran, so never mind!
This is the first time in history that the Republican party isn't running a Protestant as Pres. or V.P.
AFTER THE DINNER OB HAD 6 CHEESE BURGERS AND FRIES,DOUBLED SIZED WITH A 32 OZ. COKE,WITCH WAS IN THE PRIVACY OF THE OVAL OFFICE. THAT WOULD HAVE COST THE TAX PAYERS UNDER 100 BUCKS, THAT BEING SAID,ADD THE COST OF HIS PORTION ON THE MENU THE GRAND TOTAL ACTUALLY CAME TO –25 THOUSAND FOR
MR PIGGY. IT IS MIND GOGLING TO SEE THE EXCESSES OUR GOV. SPENDS IN THE CURRENT DISTRESS THAT WE
FACE.
I FORGOT TO ADD 1 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE FREE LOADERS CONSUMMED.
So, should we also consider your Veterans Benefits as freeloading? Some people think they are and guess what – it's the Republicans.
Continuing the tradition passed on by W was the right thing to do. I am confident he will do this in his next term as POTUS.
@AgrippaMT YOU ARE RIGHT
here is the menu first it dates with milk as our Messenger then juice ,soup 'harira' , boiled eggs then you have messaman ‘great Moroccan crêpe’ and some Moroccan sweet desert
in witch city you live i will invite you to my home for iftar with pleasure
I'm proud of Chic-fil-a. They have backbone for good to all. The wishbone always cracks alot first before it breaks to an eternal death from God. Forever is Everlasting.
HOPE AND CHANGE = Replacing Obama with Romney & Ryan ... followed by replacing the far left, biased, partisan main stream media with fair, balanced and objective journalists !!!
HOWARD IS ATTACKING A FUNDEMENTAL RIGHT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!! THE FREE PRESS
Who's the commie, nazi stooge now?? You just blew your shorts off on that one after attacking people with those very words.
this is not important BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!